CONTRACTS: Midfielder agrees two year deal

Carlisle United have today agreed terms on a two-year deal with midfielder Danny Kearns which will keep him at Brunton Park until the summer of 2016.

Belfast-born Kearns, 22, went through the West Ham United youth system and joined League of Ireland Premier Division side Dundalk on his release in 2010.

A run of 37 appearances and four goals caught the eye of Peterborough United where a three year deal also brought him loan spells with York, Rotherham and Chesterfield.

He has represented the Republic of Ireland at all age levels up to and including U23 and was released from his contract with Peterborough at the end of last season.

Manager Graham Kavanagh said: “I've been working on this one for ten days so it's good to get it done.

"I said I wanted to get the spine of the team sorted as quickly as I could and I think we've got that now.

"He can play as a number ten, or wide on the left or the right, so he'll add competition right across the midfield. He's a ball carrier and a provider. I think the only thing he needs to improve is scoring goals but he'll provide a lot for the team."

"I've spoken to Darren Ferguson and Paul Cook about him and they both spoke very highly," he continued. "He's an Irish under-21 international so he's got some good experience.

"He got promoted with Chesterfield last season while he was on loan from Peterborough so he knows what it takes to get out of League Two. He also played the first 12 games or so at Peterborough so he's also got League One experience.

"He's another who will add quality to the group. He's only 22 so he's the right age and we think he'll keep on improving.

"If I could get two strikers, a midfielder and a goalkeeper in I would be very happy with the squad. We've got a good core of players so if we can get those four in we'll have a look at the budget we've got left and see if there's anything else we can do."